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Evie Taylor #1.5
A Vintage Christmas
Evie has the perfect job and the perfect man, but keeping both in her life has become a serious balancing act...
With the sales coming to a close at Hardy's, Evie must source new stock for the season ahead. Her mind is constantly buzzing with ideas and layouts, so much so that she is forgetting all about Sam.
Can she learn to keep her work separate from her home life? Or will she lose everything...
With the sales coming to a close at Hardy's, Evie must source new stock for the season ahead. Her mind is constantly buzzing with ideas and layouts, so much so that she is forgetting all about Sam.
Can she learn to keep her work separate from her home life? Or will she lose everything...
118 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2013
5 people are currently reading
552 people want to read
About the author
Ali Harris
8 books319 followersAli is a magazine journalist who has worked in the world of glossy magazines for ten years.
She grew up in deepest darkest Norfolk, where she spent her formative years dreaming of the bright lights of the big city. At 18 she swapped sheep for show tunes and moved to London to do a degree in performing arts. After three years of 'studying' (read: doing jazz hands) she became.... a waitress. In her spare time she started writing a book (about a frustrated waitress, of course) and soon realised that writing was her true passion. After many rejection letters she decided just getting paid to write for a living would be a step in the right direction. One work placement at a celebrity style magazine later and she'd found her spiritual home. Surrounded by clothes, shoes and celebrity gossip she threw herself into her new career and was ecstatic when she bagged a job at Company magazine.
Ali was soon given her own dating column but then, she met 'Email Boy' and her column became focused on their blossoming relationship - she even won an industry award for her efforts. She left Company in 2005 to broaden her horizons as a freelance journalist, writing for Cosmo, Grazia and ELLE, amongst others. She also got married to Email Boy (now going by his official name of Ben) and then got lured back to the world of glossies with a job at number one women's magazine, Glamour. She left in 2009 to write books and have babies.
Ali's debut Miracle on Regent Street was published by Simon & Schuster in October 2011. Her second novel The First Last Kiss was published in January 2013. Her latest novel, Written in the Stars, is out now.
You can follow Ali at facebook.com/aliharriswriter and twitter.com/aliharriswriter or discover more about the author at her website aliharris.co.uk
She grew up in deepest darkest Norfolk, where she spent her formative years dreaming of the bright lights of the big city. At 18 she swapped sheep for show tunes and moved to London to do a degree in performing arts. After three years of 'studying' (read: doing jazz hands) she became.... a waitress. In her spare time she started writing a book (about a frustrated waitress, of course) and soon realised that writing was her true passion. After many rejection letters she decided just getting paid to write for a living would be a step in the right direction. One work placement at a celebrity style magazine later and she'd found her spiritual home. Surrounded by clothes, shoes and celebrity gossip she threw herself into her new career and was ecstatic when she bagged a job at Company magazine.
Ali was soon given her own dating column but then, she met 'Email Boy' and her column became focused on their blossoming relationship - she even won an industry award for her efforts. She left Company in 2005 to broaden her horizons as a freelance journalist, writing for Cosmo, Grazia and ELLE, amongst others. She also got married to Email Boy (now going by his official name of Ben) and then got lured back to the world of glossies with a job at number one women's magazine, Glamour. She left in 2009 to write books and have babies.
Ali's debut Miracle on Regent Street was published by Simon & Schuster in October 2011. Her second novel The First Last Kiss was published in January 2013. Her latest novel, Written in the Stars, is out now.
You can follow Ali at facebook.com/aliharriswriter and twitter.com/aliharriswriter or discover more about the author at her website aliharris.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 2, 2014
what a fabulous novella catching up with an old character! I loved Miracle on Regent Street when I read it last year and so I was very excited about reading this one. I left it to read over the Christmas period as its the perfect time of her for a novella as I've already said. It felt wonderful to revisit old relationships and most importantly catch up with Evie and her friends at Hardy's. the storyline deals with something that most people at one time or another in their lives will struggle with-work/life balance. Evie is doing fabulously at work but she also has a new man in her life, this means that one thing or the other will have to give. Sam is equally busy with his work and his daughter, this makes for some fraught moments in their household. With Evie putting in long hours at work and Sam having to travel abroad a lot for his, we don't know how things are going to work out for the pair who were so much in love!
It felt fabulous going back to the comfort of Hardy's department store and the friends Evie made there in the previous novel. It was a comforting place and so perfect to go back to at Christmas. Evie has a new shoe line which she is launching in the store and the description o the shoes and the display that is created for them is just magical. They send exquisite and they were amazing fun to read about. It was wonderful to visit the tearoom and wander around Hardy's windows again and I really hope that we might get chance to go back again if this wonderful author writes us any more novels or novellas dealing with Hardy's or Evie. The way this story ends sets it up perfectly for a sequel!
I don't think you would've had to have read the previous novel to enjoy this novella but I thinkit would definitely help. As I said, most readers will be able to identify with the work/life balance issue and so as a stand alone novella, this would really work, but I think if you have read the previous novel, you will enjoy, as I did, revisiting the characters and the setting and catching up with their lives once again! A wonderful Christmas read that would definitely work at any time of year!
It felt fabulous going back to the comfort of Hardy's department store and the friends Evie made there in the previous novel. It was a comforting place and so perfect to go back to at Christmas. Evie has a new shoe line which she is launching in the store and the description o the shoes and the display that is created for them is just magical. They send exquisite and they were amazing fun to read about. It was wonderful to visit the tearoom and wander around Hardy's windows again and I really hope that we might get chance to go back again if this wonderful author writes us any more novels or novellas dealing with Hardy's or Evie. The way this story ends sets it up perfectly for a sequel!
I don't think you would've had to have read the previous novel to enjoy this novella but I thinkit would definitely help. As I said, most readers will be able to identify with the work/life balance issue and so as a stand alone novella, this would really work, but I think if you have read the previous novel, you will enjoy, as I did, revisiting the characters and the setting and catching up with their lives once again! A wonderful Christmas read that would definitely work at any time of year!
January 1, 2021
Nice to step back into the world of Evie. Enjoyed the story and wished it was longer!
November 30, 2021
Read the first one first. Cause heroine is nuts, and doesn’t make much sense to me, having not read it.
November 12, 2013
Loved being back with Evie ... even if it is a quick dip into her life and Hardy's.
Recommend you read Miracle on Regent Street first (a keeper for me and one of my book hangovers).
Review coming soon!
Recommend you read Miracle on Regent Street first (a keeper for me and one of my book hangovers).
Review coming soon!
November 29, 2013
I knew this was a short read, but it was enjoyable enough, I was starting to feel festive... And then, at 60‰ the book finished! I really can't stand that, I thought I had another 40% to go. Very disappointing.
October 30, 2013
A short, sweet continuation of Ali Harris last year Christmas book Miracle On Regent Street. It was a pleasure to visit with Evie, Sam and Hardy's again.
February 8, 2015
finished this book. brilliant short story
November 5, 2013
A delightful short story. It was lovely to catch up with Evie & Sam and all the other Hardy's characters. Hopefully we will get the chance to visit Hardy's again in future books.
November 19, 2013
Vintage & Christmas - 2 of my favourite things - this book was neither really!!
December 10, 2020
Yay, I found another one that carried on with Evies story! This was only ebook novella size but was perfect for before bed👌
The book is based a year & a ½ after Evie successfully turned the sales around at Hardy's so it could remain open. Set around the months running up to Christmas Evie is planning on pulling all the stops out for her beloved Hardy's, where she is now Creative Director, but will her job get in the way of her new found happiness with Sam?
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 5 🌟 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.
The book is based a year & a ½ after Evie successfully turned the sales around at Hardy's so it could remain open. Set around the months running up to Christmas Evie is planning on pulling all the stops out for her beloved Hardy's, where she is now Creative Director, but will her job get in the way of her new found happiness with Sam?
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 5 🌟 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2019
I loved this book.
December 7, 2020
It was fun to meet the characters again, but I feel the story really could have been stretched into a full-length novel; this way it felt rather hurried.
November 2, 2021
Loved it!
December 11, 2014
I’ve had this on my TBR since last Christmas when I never got around to reading it! This is the first of any of Ali’s work that I’ve read although I have a few of her titles, this included, in my TBR. It’s the novella that follows on from her earlier full length Christmas novel Miracle On Regent Street.
The story follows MC Evie on the run up to Christmas. The story started in July which threw me at first! Although it all made sense in the end! I hadn’t read Miracle On Regent Street but didn’t feel like I’d missed anything because Ali re-introduces you to Evie and her life anyway.
The story, as I said starts in July, and goes with Evie as she plans ahead for the Christmas spectacular at her job in the department store Hardy’s. I loved seeing her plan coming together and coming to fruition. Alongside the storyline of her job is that of her relationship with the gorgeous Sam and how both of their jobs are taking a toll on their life together. I worried for a little bit about the strength of their relationship throughout but this novella has a happy Christmassy ending!
I definitely got swept up in the story and how it felt almost whimsical and fairytale like – especially at the very end! You will love this if you, like me, have a passion for shoes and Christmas! I’m now off to read Miracle On Regent Street to see where Evie’s story started!
The story follows MC Evie on the run up to Christmas. The story started in July which threw me at first! Although it all made sense in the end! I hadn’t read Miracle On Regent Street but didn’t feel like I’d missed anything because Ali re-introduces you to Evie and her life anyway.
The story, as I said starts in July, and goes with Evie as she plans ahead for the Christmas spectacular at her job in the department store Hardy’s. I loved seeing her plan coming together and coming to fruition. Alongside the storyline of her job is that of her relationship with the gorgeous Sam and how both of their jobs are taking a toll on their life together. I worried for a little bit about the strength of their relationship throughout but this novella has a happy Christmassy ending!
I definitely got swept up in the story and how it felt almost whimsical and fairytale like – especially at the very end! You will love this if you, like me, have a passion for shoes and Christmas! I’m now off to read Miracle On Regent Street to see where Evie’s story started!
June 26, 2018
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews So after I finished Miracle on Regent Street I discovered there was a sequel called A Vintage Christmas. I had heard that Ali Harris has released a Christmas book but I didn't realise it was a sequel. I immediately purchased the book and read it as soon as it was possible.
I devoured the book quite quickly. I absolutely loved being in Evie's world again. It was great to see how she's doing, I would have loved an update on her mum and sister though.
I absolutely loved David and his shoes. This is a perfect little Christmas story.
I devoured the book quite quickly. I absolutely loved being in Evie's world again. It was great to see how she's doing, I would have loved an update on her mum and sister though.
I absolutely loved David and his shoes. This is a perfect little Christmas story.
December 28, 2015
Ok so i bought this on my Kindle in Nov 13 and never got round to reading it. As im on a Christmas blitz this year im catching up on all my books. Im not usually a short story fan but reminding myself it was a follow up from 'Miracle On Regent Street' i couldnt wait to get started. It was great being back with Evie & Sam at Hardys (esp as id had a 2yr break - oops) the story fitted in exactly as the person Evie would be, great imagination with the shoes especialy the discription of them. I feel Evie kind of saves the day!. Loved this & it has been left open so maybe Ali could do another follow on next Christmas.
January 5, 2014
Another great festive read. I hadn't read Miracle on Regent Street, the novel that came before this novella, but it didn't stop me enjoying this. I didn't feel as though I needed to know the back story and so this is quite good as a stand alone read. It may have ruined some of the plot if I want to go back and read Miracle on Regent Street however! I hadn't read any of Ali Harris' work before, and I had heard many good things about her. I liked her writing style and I would definitely like to read more from her after this taster.
November 20, 2013
A sweet little novella with an underlying message of there's more to life than work. I hadn't read the prequel to this book so didn't know the history of the main characters Evie and Sam but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book. I loved the sound of the store, sounded gorgeous.
October 28, 2013
If you love vintage, and you love shoes plus a bit of romance this is the book!
A lovely little read.
A lovely little read.
December 21, 2014
Like the first book this is a charming love story and compliments well the previous book. Its a pity that it was so short..
November 11, 2013
Enjoyed this, but was disappointed that the story finished at 59% on my kindle and then had a few chapters of miracle on regent street.
December 31, 2013
Loved this book and was very disappointed to find it was only a novella!!
June 19, 2014
I loved this little e-book. The story flowed well from the first sentence to the last. I found I was soon immersed in Evie's world. It gets a thumbs up from me.
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November 7, 2014great short story
January 14, 2015
would have probably got an extra star if the story had occupied more than roughly half the book. Sam is a wonderful boyfriend.....do they really come like that in real life?
November 22, 2013
Very enjoyable easy read. Shame it was so short.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews